Outdoor Book Recommendations
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Updated May 2022
Looking for a great book to inspire your outdoor travel, training, or adventures? This page includes a list of books that I’ve enjoyed over the years. They include factual accounts of early explorers, tales of mountain climbers, river rafting adventures, record breaking athletes, and more. I will add new books to the top of this list, and each review includes a link if you are interested in ordering it.
I’m always looking for new books and would love to hear your recommendations in the comments!
The Emerald Mile, Kevin Fedarko
Pages: 432; Published: 2013; Subject: Rafting, Biography, History
I snuck a few pages of this book while rafting in the Grand Canyon, borrowing it from a friend. I ordered the book immediately when we got home so I could finish it! Though I wish I had read it sooner to better appreciate our trip, I had way more context having been through the rapids and locations described. The Emerald Mile covers the history of rafting the Colorado including geology, early explorers, the engineering behind the Glen Canyon dam, rafting tours and dories, and the fight to preserve our wilderness and national treasures. One particularly fascinating section to me was the account of John Wesley Powell’s first trip through the canyon. I loved to imagine exploring the unknown river, unsure of what was around each turn, and reading descriptions of the same rapids we faced.
The book culminates in a speed run made possible by the 1983 El Nino. With the Glen Canyon dam on the verge of total failure, three men took the opportunity to attempt the fastest ever trip through the Grand Canyon. The Emerald Mile is incredibly well written, captivating, and thoroughly researched.
Read about our Grand Canyon rafting trip here.
Annapurna, Maurice Herzog
Pages: 336; Published: 1951; Subject: Mountain Climbing, Memoir
Annapurna is an incredible account of the first expedition to summit an 8000+ meter peak. The team was comprised of French mountaineers and Sherpas and the climb took place in 1950. The team set out to climb either Annapurna or its neighbor Dhaulagiri and the book recounts their assessment of the two peaks for the first time. This was particularly incredible given the technology and lack of mapping of the area at the time.
While the mountaineering feat is undeniable, for me it was overshadowed by the author’s self-absorbed attitude and treatment of the Sherpas and porters. He referred to them with condescension and derogatory titles. The Sherpa’s strength and work ethic are unmatched and they are the true heroes in this story! This book was difficult for me to put down, and made me consider the physical cost and risk of any mountaineering endeavors. What price would you be willing to pay?
Born to Run, Christopher McDougall
Pages: 287; Published: 2009; Subject: Running, History, Adventure, Memoir
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a long book about running, but found Born to Run an inspiring and motivating read. The primary focus of this book is the indigenous Raramuri (or Tarahumara) who live in the remote Sierra Madre of Mexico, including Copper Canyon where this story is told. They are famed for excellent health, and their ability to run over a hundred miles at a time. And they do so in minimalist footwear resembling sandals! The author goes on a thrilling adventure to locate and participate in an ultramarathon race with prominent Tarahumara runners.
The author weaves many other fascinating tales throughout, from the evolutionary origins of running to the history of barefoot shoes to the best fuel for your run. I was particularly captivated by the history of the Leadville 100 ultra trail run in Colorado and the nail-biting recaps of races in the 90s. While it may be hard to get excited about running, this book was thrilling and got me out on my longest run of the year!
No Shortcuts to the Top, David Roberts and Ed Viesturs
Pages: 378; Published: 2006; Subject: Mountain Climbing, Memoir
Ed Viesturs riveting autobiography spanning his early life through his successful summit of the 14 peaks higher than 8000m. He is the only American so far to have accomplished this feat, and the 5th person ever to do so without supplemental oxygen. The book is filled with fascinating anecdotes along the way including things like his education as a veterinarian, transitioning careers to focus on guiding, his account of the 1996 Everest disaster, and how he developed his style of climbing. I really appreciated Viesturs approach to safety while climbing – getting home is his top priority even when he’s just a few hundred feet from a summit. This is a refreshing confirmation that you don’t have to risk your life or lose some toes to accomplish incredible mountaineering feats. I had the opportunity to listen to Ed speak and both his book and his talk were truly inspiring!
Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer
Pages: 416; Published: 1997; Subject: Mountain Climbing
Krakauer’s bestselling firsthand account of the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster in which eight climbers were killed. I read this book in high school and it opened my eyes to the arduous acclimation process and dangers of high elevation mountaineering. Krakauer provides a fascinating foundation of Everest history, climbing routes, campsites, logistics, and various expeditions involved. At the core of this book is his harrowing experience getting caught in a massive storm, and the subsequent actions of the climbers involved. This book simultaneously captures the desensitization of death on the mountain as well as the fragility of human life and the emotional toll of a such a disaster.
Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer
Pages: 224; Published: 1996; Subject: Biography, Travel
Another bestseller by Krakauer, Into the Wild pieces together the life of Chris McCandless who spent over 100 days alone in the wilderness before his death. McCandless entered the wilderness on the Alaskan Stampede Trail with limited supplies, foraging and hunting for food. McCandless setup camp at an abandoned bus after being unable to cross a river to return to civilization. He ultimately perished in the bus leaving behind a journal, photographs, and an SOS note. Krakauer presents a biography of the mysterious McCandless as well as a page-turning account of his time in the wild.
Sevin Summits, Dick Bass & Frank Wells with Rick Ridgeway
Pages: 384; Published: 1988; Subject: Autobiography, Mountaineering
The account of two unlikely narrators on their attempt in the 1980s to become the first to hike the highest summit on each continent, a feat known as the Seven Summits. The summits range in difficulty from an easy walk (Australia’s Mt. Kosciuszko) to logistical nightmares (Antarctica’s Mt. Vinson) to Mt. Everest itself. On a related note, there are a few definitions of the Seven Summits list depending on how the continents of Europe and Australia are defined. The book includes riveting accounts of their training and summit attempts, as well as major logistical hurdles particularly for travel to Antarctica. While I found this book captivating, I can see how the authors might rub people the wrong way. They can fall more into the category of off-putting rich guys relying on others instead of respectable mountaineers! However in some aspects it’s motivational to see such a seemingly unattainable goal transpire as the authors grow in experience. Either way, I couldn’t put the book down!
Wild, Cheryl Strayed
Pages: 315; Published: 2012; Subject: Autobiography, Backpacking
Strayed’s bestselling memoir of her time on the Pacific Crest Trail seeking redemption from drug addiction and grief. Starting in Mojave Desert with zero backpacking experience, Strayed eventually covered over 1000 miles. The book is sprinkled with anecdotes from her adventure, reflections on her past, and descriptions of her growth over the course of her journey. While Strayed’s lack of preparedness and decisions on the trail frustrated me, I still enjoyed reading about this journey and gained a new perspective!
The Lost City of Z, David Grann
Pages: 352; Published: 2009; Subject: Biography, Adventure
Percy Fawcett mysteriously disappeared in the Amazon in 1925 while searching for a complex civilization nicknamed “Z”. Following prior expeditions and research he suspected that this lost city or it’s ruins survived deep in the jungle. Author David Grimm recounts the expeditions of Fawcett and subsequent explorers in their search for Z. He also follows Fawcett’s deadly trail to experience the Amazon firsthand. I found the mystery and descriptions of such a little-known place thrilling!
Ice Ghosts, Paul Watson
Pages: 327; Published: 2017; Subject: Biography, History, Adventure
I discovered this book through a captivating NPR interview so when I found it at Bart’s Books in Ojai (an epic used bookstore that I highly recommend!) I had to snag it. Ice Ghosts tells the story of the Lost Franklin expedition whose charter was to complete the Northwest Passage through the artic. The voyage consisted of 129 men on two ships, Erebus and Terror, led by Sir John Franklin from England in 1845. Without spoiling too many details, the fate of the crew was a longstanding mystery with critical leads discovered only in the last decade. The book goes into detail on the history and motivation behind the expedition, various theories on what became of its men, the many search parties organized to locate clues, and modern day discoveries observed by author Paul Watson.
While I found the story of exploring an uncharted land fascinating, the book was disorganized. It was not always clear how various asides were important to the storyline (for example so many pages devoted to psychics!), and certain details were not clearly closed out. I wish the book included better maps showing more of the points discussed. I found myself referring to the maps frequently to get my bearings on the mystery. Overall I enjoyed this book despite being frustrated with it at times!
Reading List
Links to purchase each of the books on this page:
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